A decision on a new housing development in Rainworth has been delayed while an attempt is made to address concerns over parking, traffic, and access to public open space.

Homes for Honey, a Sheffield-based housebuilder, is looking to build 133 new houses off Kestrel Rise.

The site had been allocated for housing by Newark & Sherwood Council, but the number of homes the developer is asking to build is above what was initially anticipated.

It sits near to the edge of the ancient Sherwood Forest.

A CGI image of the proposed new housing development for Rainworth. Photo: Submitted

placeholder image — A CGI image of the proposed new housing development for Rainworth. Photo: Submitted

During a council planning committee meeting on June 4, Greg Sharman, of IBA planning, acting as an agent for the developer, said hundreds of thousands of pounds would be provided to go towards local infrastructure improvements.

He said: “There are no adverse impacts that could be found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of delivering the scheme.”

However, councillors raised a number of concerns, prompting a decision on the plans to be delayed pending further negotiations.

Coun Linda Tift (Lab), who represents Rainworth North and Rufford, said: “Yes, it is an allocated site, it has been that way for a long time.

"Originally, it was for 190 (new homes), and now we have before us another application for 133, taking it to quite considerably more than what was originally said.

"It does seem over-intensive to me.”

She said while she was pleased that 15 of the homes to be affordable, she feared the parking was insufficient and the roads and junctions would not cope with the extra traffic, particularly Warsop Lane.

Coun Linda Dales (Con), said she had no problem with development on the site, but that the ‘quantum feels wrong’.

Their concerns were echoed by Coun Penny Rainbow (Con), who added: “It is a considerable uplift.

"Those two roads weren’t built for that volume of traffic.

“I also share concerns it doesn’t meet our parking standards.

"I think it needs deferring and to come back hopefully with a better layout.”

Another problem related to access from the development site to an area of open space to the north, which is owned by the parish council.

A council officer said discussions had taken place between the parish council and the developer to make footpath connections to the open space.

However, the parish council ‘was not forthcoming’, according to the officer.

While all 133 plots would have off-street parking, six plots do not meet the council’s standards.

This is due to tandem parking arrangements and led to officers allocating some homes with an on-street parking space to provide future homeowners with options.

But this was a cause for concern from councillors, prompting a call for a rethink.

Coun Andy Freeman (Lab), chair of the planning committee, added: “It may come back as is, but I think it’s important not to lose that opportunity for a bit more negotiation to get it right, not only for the residents that are going to be living here, which is important, but also the residents that are already there.”